The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-21
CAPT. j. s. NrRAE.
Death of the Most Noted Man Among the
Southern Prison Guards.

Louisville Courier-Journal.
Capt. Jordan S. McRae, the most noted guard
at the Indiana State Prison South, died in the
guard quarters at that Institution yesterday aft
ernoon at $50 o'clock. He was born in Harri-
son county, Indiana, in 1927. In the early part
of his life he engaged in steamboating, and is
known to all the old river men from Pittsburg
to New Orleans. having acted in the capacity of
mate a large number of vessels plying the
waters of the Ohio and Mississippi and their
tributaries. His wife, who before her marriage
Miss Tuley, of New Albany, sister of Col.
W. w. Tuley and Floyd Tuley, died twelve
years since. leaving him an only daughter, Miss
Lizzie McRae. now young lady of twenty
years, who, with the only surviving brother.
Capt. John McRae, OF Harrison county, Indi-
ana, were with him at the time of his death.
To his daughter. Captain McRae was most de-
votelly attached, and splendid education
given her at the De Paw Seminary at New
Albany. She afterward attended the State
Normal School. and adapted herself teach.
er. During the past school year she had charge
of school at Elkhart Ind.
A short time after the death of his wife he Sc
cured the position of guard at the prison, and it
was here that be made a name that brought him
into prominence all the country. His
build was OF extraordinary large proportions.
and his heart was proportionately equal to his
form. In demeanor he was modest but always
acquaintance with. While mis- social life was of
easy going turn, his business life was ex-
actly the reverse, and this had the effect of
convict within the prison walls.
For five years after becoming
a guard he was stationed in the dollhouse, and
during the time it was developed that he was an
extraordinary fine shot with q rifle pistol.
The west side of tho prison grounds is inclosed
with rickety plank wall, and considered
the weakest place about the prison for,escapes
and was often taken advantage of by the prison
ers. After learning his qualifications, Warden
Howard placed him in charge OF what is known
as the northwest tower and but few attempts 10
scale that wall were afterward made. At 1910
o'clock on the afternoon of May "a. 1881. Thomas
Joseph, a lifetime convict from Salem. Wash
ington county, who. when he committed his
crime, came so near being lyuched that he had
to be guarded by the State militia aud even be
brought to the prison door by them, elm bed
over the wall and reached the outside While
running around a small cottage in the vicinity he
seen by McRae and ordered TO stop several
times, but paid no attention to the command.
When Joseph reached point $50 yards from
the tower. McRae leveled his gun on the fleeing
convict and shot him dead At o'clock on the
afternoon of November 7, 1881, John Crawford,
a four-year man from Vanderburg county, ac-
companied by companion, Joseph Burchel,
made an attempt to escape, and was shouted at
by McRae, which had the effect of stopping
Burche. Crawford took the same course as
Joseph, and when at nearly the indentical spot
whore he had been brought to the ground
Crawford fell. mortally wounded by bali from
from Necklaces gun. On or two occasions
mutinies occurred inside the walls that
gaining serious aspects. McRae sent for,
and his mere presence among the re-
voting convicts had the effect of driving
them Dack To their Work. HIS marksman-
ship was correct that it is related by him that
while the brick-yard was in operation near his
station he would have convict step off two
hundred yards and place a tin pan a post.
and would indicate the exact spot where he in
tended placing ball. and would never miss his
calculation. In this manner he gained such
reputation among the convicts that his name
was enough to terrify them. He always
reticient about his exploits. and would very
seldom talk about them. looking at them in the
light that his duty required him to take these
extreme measures when necessary. His illness
was of short duration, having only been sick
since last Wednesday, when he was suddenly
taken with vomiting spell which developed
into aggravated case of cholera morbus.
which caused his death